306. NEW ALLEY RECORD LOTS

306 NEW ALLEY RECORD LOTS 306.1 A new Alley Record Lot shall: (a) Have frontage along a public alley with a minimum alley width of twenty-four feet (24 ft.); (b) Have access to a public street through a public alley or alleys with an alley width of not less than twenty-four feet (24 ft.) at any point between the new Alley Record Lot and the street; (c) Have alley frontage of not less than fourteen feet (14 ft); Minimum lot width standards prescribed in the zone do not apply; (d) Meet the lot area standards applicable for non-Alley Lots in the same zone, except that: (1) In any R-2, R-3 and RF zones, the minimum area shall be the minimum required, regardless of building type; and (2) If no minimum lot area standard is provided in the zone, the Alley Record Lot shall be a minimum of eighteen hundred square feet (1,800 sq. ft.) of lot area; and (e) Not be created by subdividing an existing record lot unless the subdivision application includes a statement, supported by a plat depicting the proposed Alley Record Lot and its existing record lot, that establishes to the Zoning Administrator’s satisfaction that the remainder of that existing record lot and the new Alley Record Lot each comply with Subtitle C § 302 in addition to all other applicable requirements. 306.2 An Alley Record Lot may be combined with an abutting Alley Record Lot to create a larger Alley Record Lot without meeting the requirements of Subtitle C §§ 306.1. 306.3 An Alley Tax Lot recorded with the Office of Tax and Revenue prior to May 12, 1958, may be converted into an Alley Record Lot without meeting the requirements of Subtitle C § 306.1, if the Alley Tax Lot: (a) Has a minimum square footage of four hundred and fifty square feet (450 sq. ft.); or (b) Is combined with an abutting Alley Tax Lot created before May 12, 1958, or with an abutting Alley Record Lot, to create a larger Alley Record Lot. 306.4 An Alley Tax Lot not meeting the requirements of Subtitle C §§ 306.1 through 306.3 that was recorded with the Office of Tax and Revenue prior to September 6, 2016, may be converted to an Alley Record Lot if approved by the Board of Zoning Adjustment as a special exception under Subtitle X, Chapter 9, and subject to the following requirements: (a) The Alley Tax Lot connects to an improved public street through an improved alley or system of alleys that provides adequate public safety, and infrastructure availability; and (b) The Office of Zoning shall refer the application to the following agencies for their review and recommendation, if filed to the case record within the forty (40) day period established by Subtitle A § 211: (1) Department of Transportation (DDOT); (2) Department of Public Works (DPW); (3) Metropolitan Police Department (MPD); (4) Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS); (5) DC Water (WASA); and (6) Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE); and (7) If a historic district or historic landmark is involved, the Historic Preservation Office (HPO). 306.5 A proposed subdivision of an alley lot that does not meet the requirements of Subtitle C § 306.1 may be approved by the Board of Zoning Adjustment as a special exception under Subtitle X, Chapter 9, and subject to the following requirements: (a) The requirements of Subtitle C § 306.1(e) shall still be met; (b) The lot or lots connect to an improved public street through an improved alley or system of alleys that provides adequate public safety, and infrastructure availability; and (c) The Office of Zoning shall refer the application to the following agencies for their review and recommendation, if filed to the case record within the forty (40) day period established by Subtitle A § 211: (1) Department of Transportation (DDOT); (2) Department of Public Works (DPW); (3) Metropolitan Police Department (MPD); (4) Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department (FEMS); (5) DC Water (WASA); (6) Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE); and (7) If a historic district or historic landmark is involved, the Historic Preservation Office (HPO). (d) The Board of Zoning Adjustment shall determine, after considering relevant agency comments concerning transportation and parking, waste management, public safety, water and sewer services, environmental impact, and historic preservation, if applicable, that granting the special exception would not result in undue adverse impacts to nearby properties. SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 12690 (October 30, 2020); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 73 DCR 010197 (July 17, 2026). District of Columbia Municipal Regulations Zoning Regulations of 2016: General Rules 11-C DCMR § 306